Bravo! Brashear, the annual meeting of the Brashear Association, featured the election and re-election of board members and the awarding of the agency’s Community Service Award and the Georgina Chamberlain Peters Scholarship.

Kristy Rogers was elected to the Board of Directors to a three-year term. Returning board members are: Reverend Jeff Eddings, Nancy Eshelman, Janice Goliwas, Bruce Kraus and Juli Milan.

Recipient of this year’s Peters Scholarship is South Pittsburgh native Janel A. Young. A 2009 graduate of Pittsburgh Schenley High School, Ms. Young is a senior at Pennsylvania State University where she is seeking a Bachelor of Science in advertising from the College of Communications.

She is a Dean’s List recipient, Pittsburgh Promise scholar, N.E.E.D. scholarship recipient and the second place winner in a 2011 diversity essay contest.

Ms. Young has volunteered at Carson Towers on South Side and at the Pittsburgh’s Royal Family Kids Camp. This summer she completed more than 450 hours of service with children in Brashear’s programs in Allentown, Beltzhoover and Mt. Oliver/St. Clair.

At Penn State, she serves as a mentor for the State College area high school African American summprt Group, volunteers at the State College Historical library, participates in the “In the Streets Crop Walk.” And was a donor at the Penn State Red Cross Blood Drive. She has demonstrated leadership ability through service with Penn State LeaderShape Institution, the Multicultural Women’s Forum, the Tour Guide Committee for S.M.A.R.T. and the Penn State Marketing Association.

Ms. Young is studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan and was unable to attend the luncheon and awards ceremony.

The Peters Scholarship is awarded annually to an agency participant or volunteer who best exemplifies a commitment to community service and who demonstrates outstanding leadership qualities.

AmeriCorps KEYS (Knowledge to Empower Youth to Success) Service Corps program received Brashear’s Community Service Award.

In Allegheny County, KEYS AmeriCorps members tutor, mentor, recruit and lead volunteers and engage young people in community service and service-learning projects. KEYS is sponsored by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Community Services.

KEYS members have recruited and led more than 12,000 volunteers and, with their youth, designed and implemented hundreds of community service projects. These projects included building restorations, urban gardens, community arts projects, recycling initiatives, oral history projects, creation of a community center and food and clothing drives.

Brashear had benefited from the infusion of youthful energy, idealism and talent that expands its ability to serve.